The charity’s lifeguards have undergone intensive training over the past few weeks and from this weekend (Saturday 13 May) will be keeping visitors safe at Sheringham West, Cromer East, Mundesley, Gorleston and Sea Palling Beaches in Norfolk.

From Saturday 27 May additional RNLI lifeguards, clad in their distinctive red and yellow uniforms, will be on patrol at Lowestoft South and Southwold North beaches on the Suffolk coast.

By the peak summer season on 8 July, the charity will have lifeguards patrolling a total of seventeen beaches, 10am – 6pm, seven days a week, in the two counties.

‘Over the past few weeks our lifeguards have gone through a rigorous programme of training to ensure we can make our beaches as safe as possible for people visiting the east coast,’ said RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Sam Kendrick.

‘Our lifeguards are highly skilled with world class training and equipment and have been trained in a variety of life-saving techniques, as well as being taught advanced first aid and detailed knowledge of local risks and hazards at each of our beaches.’

‘We want people to enjoy the summer on our beaches in safety and our lifeguards, who are equipped with rescue boards, vehicles and life-saving equipment, will be there to help avoid incidents and ready to respond if people experience difficulties in the water,’ he added.

RNLI lifeguards will also be on hand to offer advice on how to stay safe in the water and letting people know about any particular local dangers in the area.

In 2016, RNLI lifeguards on 227 beaches around the UK dealt with 17,414 incidents and helped 20,538 people. Incidents ranged from slips, trips and stings to more serious water-based rescues. In total they saved 127 lives.

The full details for beaches covered by RNLI lifeguards in Norfolk and Suffolk this summer are as follows:

Norfolk Beaches:

Wells-next-the-Sea 8July – 10September

Sheringham West 13May – 17September

Sheringham East 8July – 10September

West Runton 8July – 10September

East Runton 8 July – 10September

Cromer West 8July – 10th September

Cromer East 13May – 17September

Mundesley 13May – 17September

Sea Palling 13 May – 17September

Hemsby 8July – 10September

Great Yarmouth 8July – 10September

Gorleston 13May – 17September

Suffolk Beaches:

Lowestoft North 8July – 10September

Lowestoft South 27May – 10September

Southwold North 27 May – 10 September

Southwold South 8July – 10September

Southwold Denes 8 July - 10 September

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit
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www.rnli.org.uk/press

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.